Suspension-railway switch



J. H. SMITH. SUSPENSION RAILWAY SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 29, I919- Patented Nov. 23, 1920;

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Wit/"mew I. H. SMITH.

SUSPENSION RAILWAY SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29, .19I9.

Pamwamm 23 1920.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. H. SMITH. SUSPENSION RAILWAY SWITCH.

Patented No v. 23, 1920.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 29, 1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Jolid/i H. 5mm

J. H. SMITH.

SUSPENSION RMLWAY SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-29,1919.

1,359,542. Patented Nov. 23 1920.

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J. H. SMITH. SUSPENSIONRAILWAY SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED NOV 29, I919.

Patented Nov. 23, 1920 6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

um-"tow J. H. SMITH. SUSPENSION RAILWAY SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29.1919- 1,"359,542. Patented Nov. 23,1920.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

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JOSIAH E. SMITH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOE TO WILLIAM H.

TIGERMAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SUSPENSION-RAILVVAY SWITCH.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatl, JOSIAH H. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Suspension-Railway Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in suspension railway switches, the object of the invention being to provide an improved construction of turn table supporting rail sections adapted to be so positioned as to permit a car to move along the main line or follow a turnout or switch.

A further obj ect is to provide a suspension railway with an improved support for a turn table, and suspend from the turn table a frame carrying straight and curved track sections either of which are adapted to be alined with the rails of the suspension railway structure so as to enable the car to follow a main line or turnout as desired.

A further object is to. provide an improved suspension railway switch which is designed for use on monorail systems, and which will most efficiently perform the functions for which it is intended.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation show ing the transverse girders in section.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View.

Fig. 3 is a view in transverse section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view in horizontal section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, omitting the car and its supporting truck.

Fig. 5 is a view in horizontal section through the supporting framework taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, but omittingthe moving parts.

Fig, 6 is an enlarged view in section on the line 66 of Fig. 2, and

Figs. 7, 8, and 9, are enlarged fragmentary views in section illustrating various details of construction.

Specification. of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov.- 23, 1920.

Application filed November 29, 1919. Serial No. 341,465.

1 represents a longitudinal girder, and 2 are transverse girderswhich are mounted on uprights 3 and support the longitudinal girder 1.

While it is to be understood that my improved longitudinal girder will be supported by many transverse girders, I have illustrated but two of the latter, and the two illustrated are designed to support my im proved switch construction which will be hereinafter described.

The girder 1 is provided with laterally projecting cantalivers 3, supporting a main line rail 4, the latter having a gap therein between the transverse girders 2 as shown clearly in Fig. 4i.

5 is a turn out rail which is supported in any approved manner, and between this turnout rail and the rail at of the main track, there is also a gap between the girders 2, Q, as shown in Fig. 1.

The girders 2 are connected'by short longitudinal girders 6, so that the said girders 2 and 6 form a rectangular frame located above the girder 1. The girders 2 and 6 are connected by relatively short bars 7 forming a hexagonal support, and on this hexagonal suport a circular track 8 is secured.

9 is a turn table composed of channel bars' 10 and 11 located at an angle to each other, and at their outer ends connected by an octagonal frame 12, the several members of which are provided with axle stubs 13 mounted in wheels 1 1, the latter supported on the track 8, so that the turn table can readily revolve and be rigidly supported in all positions.

The turn table 9, at its center, supports a depending rectangular frame 15, and said frame is provided at opposite sides with laterally projecting cantalivers 16. One pair of these cantalivers 16 supports a straight rail section 17, while the other pair of cantalivers 16 supports a curved rail section 18. The section 17 is designed to bridge the gap between the sections of main line rail l, while the curved section 18 is designed to bridge the gap between one section of the mainline a and the turnout 5, and in order that these rails may properly meet as the turn table is revolved, the ends of all of the rail sections are beveled or curved as shown.

Figs. 2 and. 4L illustrate the turn table in a position to connect the main line rail with the turnout 5. The switch rail section 18 is shown in position to connect the ends of these rails. V 1

W hen it is desired to move along the main track, the turn table is partially revolved to bring the raii section 1'? into position to connect the sections of the main line, and it will therefore be noted that the turn table constitutes the carrying means for the switch rails, and while I have illustrated two of these switch rails, it is of course to be un' derstood that the invention is not limited to any particular number.

When the track section is in position, either for the main line or the turnout, the Wheels 19 of the truck 20 can run on the raii sections, and while of course the invention is not limited to any particular construction of truck, I have illustrated the same with a hanger 21 supporting the car 22.

I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction or shape of the various frames and turn table construction, and various slight changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described without do; parting from my invention, and hence i do not limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a suspension railway, the combination with an overhead structure including transversely extending girders and a longitudinal girder secured to said transve girders and depending below the same; main rails secured to said longitudinal girder and being discontinued between said transverse girders; a turnout rail having an end located adjacent the interruption of said main rail; and means rotatably supported between said transverse girders and ha ing a portion depending below said transverse girders said means supporting a turnout rail section and a main line rail section adapted, due to the rotation of said means, to be moved respectively into 'alinement with one end of the main line rail sections and the turnout rail and the interrupted portions of the main rail; substantially as described.

2. In a suspension railway, the combination with an overhead supper g structure; rails supported by said overnead supporting structure and having a gap therein; a turntable rotatably mounted on said supporting structure; a frame depending therefrom and, having projecting cantalivers; and a rail section supported on said cantalivers and spaced from saic frame whereby upon rotation of said turntable the rail section will be turned into position to free said gap; substantially as described.

. 3. In a suspension railway, the combination with a longitudinal girder and transverse girders, of rails supported by the longitudinal girder having a gap therein between the transverse girders, a frame rig idly secured to the transverse girders, a turn table mounted on the frame, and arail section secured to the turn table, substantially as described. q I

i. In a suspension railway, the combination with a longitudinal girder and transverse girders, of rails supported by the longitudinal girder having a gap therein. between the transverse girders, a frame rigidly secured to the transverse girders, a turn table mounted on the frame, a depending frame on the turn table, and a rail section secured to the frame, substantially as de' scribed.

5. In a suspension railway, the combina tion with a longitudinal girder and transverse girders, of rails supported by the lon gitudinal girder having a gap therein be tween the transverse girders, a frame rigidly secured to the transverse girders, a turn table mounted on the frame, a turn out, and rail sections secured to the frame and adapted to connect the main line sections or one of the latter with the turnout, substantially as described.

6. In a suspension railway, the combinan with main line sections and a turnout, of a stationary frame having a circular tract: thereon above the rail sections, a turn table, stubs projecting from the turn table, wheels on the stubs mounted on the circular track, and switch rail sections connected to the turn table, substantially as described.

. 7. In a suspension railway, the combina tion with main line sections and a turnout, of a stationary frame havinga circular track thereon above the rail sections, a turn table, stubs projecting from the turn table, wheels on the stubs mounted on the circular track,

a frame depending from the turn table, i

and switch rail sections secured to the frame, substantially as described.

8. In a suspension railway, the combination with main line sections and a turnout, of a stationary frame having a circular track thereon above the rail sections, a turn table, stubs projecting from the turn table, wheels on the stubs mounted on the circular track, a rectangular frame depending from the turn table, and switch rail sections at opposite sides of the rectangular frame, substantially as described.

9. In a suspension railway, the combina tion with main line sections and a turnout, of a stationary frame having a circular track thereon above the rail sections, a turn table, stubs projecting from the turn table,

Wheels on the stubs mounted on the circular In testimony whereof I have signed my track, a rectangular frame depending from name to this specification in the presence of the turn table, cantalivers projecting from two subscribing Witnesses.

opposite sides of the rectangular frame at JOSIAH H. SMITH. its lower end, and switch rail sections sup- Witnesses: ported by the outer ends of the cantalivers, CHAS. E. Po'r'rs,

substantially as described. ANNA BENTON. 

